Washing machine



J. B- KIRBY.

WASHING'MAEHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. i921.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. \nventor James B. K irby Any.

'1. B. KIRBY.

WASHING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR" 11. 1921.

Patented Feb. 21, 1922.

2 $HEETS-SHEET 2.

Fig.3.

- \hventbr.

4 dqmes B.K'\rby w by MW 7 Ai'ty.

pairs r e JAMES B. KIRBY, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING IMAGINE.

Application filed April 11, 1921. Serial No. 460,451.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Washing Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to clothes washing machines and has for'its special object the provision of a small, light, and portable, power-operated mechanism, which can be applied to and used in connection with set wash-tubs, portable wash-tubs, and the like, and easily-stored away after the washing is done. Other objects of the invention are the provision of mechanism of this character whiclrwill wash the clothing very thoroughly and quickly and with a minimum of wear; the provision of mechanism which will stir and rearrange the clothing very completely during the washing operation, but without entangling the articles either with each other or with the mechanism; the provision of improved and simplified clothes-washing mechanism ofthe pounder type possessing both a vertical motion and a rotating motion; the provision of mechanical means of a peculiarly simple type for the operation of a pounder type washing apparatus; theprovision of a new and improved mechanical movement for devices of this character; the provision of new and improved expedients for preventing overloading of a machine of this nature; the provision of new and improved splashing preventing means; while further ob ects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this application I have shown one operative mechanism in which my inventive idea can be embodied, together with the mode of application of the same to a rectangular casing such as a domestic set tub, but it will be understood that these drawin s are intended only to illustrate the princip es of my invention and not to limit me either to this special mechanism or to thiskind of a receptacle. In these drawings Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my complete washing machine as applied to 'a wash tub, the latter being shown in section and the cover being shown in place. F1g5 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in 1g. 1, the cover being omitted and'a part of the gear box being shown in section; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and drawn to enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a vertical 'sectional view corresponding to the line of Fig. 3 and looking in the; direction of the arrows; and F ig. 5 is a detail view showing the free end of the pounder arm and associated parts.

Describing by reference characters the parts shown in these drawings, 1 represents a gear casing supported with its plane approximately hor zontal, having projecting laterally from one 'side an electric-motor casing 2 and having projecting from its bottomthe bracket 3 provided with the horizontal pivot bearing 4, said bracket also serving as one side of a clamping member whereby the device is attached to the wall 5 of a tub or like receptacle, the other clamping member comprising a screw 6 carried by a lug 7 formed on the motor casing. Journaled in the gear box is a vertical shaft 10 having secured to its upper end the crank 11 whose free end is formed with the hemispherical, socket 12 receiving the ball 13 which is carried by one branch 14 of the arm 15; the other branch 16 of said arm has at-its end the offset longitudinally-bored, portion 17-. Slidably and rotatably mounted in this bore is the shank 18 of a T bolt whose arms 19-19 are journaled in the bearings 44; the end of the shank 18 projects for a distance beyond'the bore and is provided with the removable collar 20 beneath which is interposed the compression spring 21.

' Inside the gear-box 1 the shaft 10 is proby the plate 30 which covers the main portion of the gear box 1; and loosely sleeved on this gudgeon is a pinion 31 formed on its lower face with a diametrical slot 32 which receives a pair of fixed studs carried by the face of the worn gear 27. With this construction the plate 30 need be only .made of sufli-- the screw 29 and removing the gudgeon 28,

the pinion 31 can be slid laterally as soon as its slot has been turned in the proper direction, after which the worm gear 27 can ,be

removed with each. In this way a gear box is provided having only a single circular cover and having its bottom part entirely imperforme so that the gears can be packed in grease without danger of leakage which would spoil the clothing.

.The freeend of the? arm 15 is provided with a downwardly opening spherical socket 35 loosely receiving the ball 36 from which depends the cylindrical shank 37, said ball being held in its socket by means of a removable gland nut 38 whose projecting portion is here shown as constituting a bevel gear formed with downwardly facingv teeth 1O. It will be clear that these teeth might equally well be made in the metal of the socket mouth and the land correspondingly reduced in size. R1gidly secured to the shank 37 is a gear member 41 formed on-its upper face with vbevel teeth 12 which mesh with the teeth 40; the number of teeth 12 differing. slightly from the number of the teeth t0 so that as the one gear is rolled around the other a slow differential movement is produced,

the direction of such movement depending upon which of the gears has the larger number of teeth. For practical reasons it is convenient to make the gear 11 smaller than the gear 39 for which reason I prefer that'the number of teeth 4:2 be less than the number of teeth 4:0 but do not limit myself to such an'arnan ement.

Slidab y mounted upon the shank v37 beneath the gear 11 and adjustably se-= cured thereto by the set screw as is a yoke 47 having secured to its ends the downwardly facing suction cups 48-48, preferably two in number, although any symmetrical arrangement of plural cups can be emplayed.

In order to prevent splashing of the wash water I provide a cover comprising a suitably sized piece of flexible waterproof fabric 50 preferably having lead buttons 51 or other suitable weights secured at tintervals around the margins and adapted to be thrown over the vtub and machine, the upper face of the casing being provided with a socket 52 removably receiving the supporting rod 53 by means of which the cover is held above and out of contact with. the working parts.

The operation of the device is as follows: the rotation of thewater causes a slow revolution of the crank 11 which causes the line a--a which connects the center of the ball 13 with the center of the universal joint 18=-19 to generate a cone. Accordingly the arm 15 exhibits an up and down movement throughout a corresponding angle, coupled with a lateral rocking movement, as a result of which the gear 39 exhibits gyratory movement about its own center, although that center is continuously changing position owing to the up-and-down movement of the arm. The weight of the cups 4:8 pauses the shank 37 to ban substantially vertically, as a result of whic the teeth l2 always, or at least most of the time, remain in mesh with the teeth 39, with the result that the cups present a slow circular progression around the shank 37 as a center, the direction depending upon the algebraic diderence and the rate depending upon the arithmetical difference between the number of the teeth. As a result, a very slow swirling motion is produced in the cleansing liquid, and all parts of the clothing are thoroughly and uniformly washed' I have shown the axis of the shank 18 as substantially intersecting the center of the ball 36, and this I find to be the preferable, although not es sential, construction. However it the divergence of these axes be. too great the motion of the cups becomes unduly wild and the clothing becomes tangled. In case the machine is overloaded either by reason of the presence of an undue amount of clothing in the tub or an attachment of the cups at too low a point on the shank 37, the spring 21 will yield sutliciently to prevent either any stalling of the motor or breakage of the mechanism, In order to remove the arm 15 it is merely necessary to disconnect the collar 20 (I have shown a. cotter pin for this purpose, but any detachable device will do) after which the arm can readily be removed from the shank 18 by a swinging movement around the ball 13 as a center, after which the ball can be freely lifted out of the socket 12.

I do not restrict myself to the use of toothed gears 39 and 40 since a suitably roughened device, or a ratchet device or numerous otherexpedients can be emplpyed; I do not limit myself to any particular form of universal joint at either part of the cone crank; I do not restrict myself to the particular gear-train or driving arrangements herein shown; and in general it will be understood that many changes in matters of detail, construction, and arrangement can be made within the scope of my invention, wherefore I do not limit myself to any of the features herein shown except as the same are specifically recited in the claims hereto annexed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

v 1. In a washing machine in combination, arotatable crank, a lever pivoted upon a tired transverse axis which intersects the crank axis at a distance from the plane of the crank, said lever having a branch which is oscillatable about the longitudinal axis transverse axis which is spaced from the.

plane of said crank and in line with its axis,

an arm carried by said lever and having uniyersal connection with said crank, and washmg devices operatively connected to said lever.

3. In a washing machine the combination with a support, of a crank journaled therein,

a level-pivoted to said support upon a fixed axis which intersects the crank axis at a distance therefrom, an arm carried by said lever and movable about an axis which also intersects the crank axis at a distance from the crank and is perpendicular to the pivot axis of said lever, there being a universal joint connection between said crank and arm, and washing devices operatively connected to said lever.

4. In a washing machine the combination with a crank, an 'arm supported for universal movement about a point on the crank axis which is removed from the crank plane and also having a universal connection to said crank, a lever operatively connected with said arm to swing therewith about a single transverse axis, and washing devices operatively connected to said lever.

5. In a washing machine, in combination a lever pivoted to swing about a fixed transverse axis and also to oscillate about a longitudinal axis, washing devices operatively connected to the free end of said lever, a branch arm carried by said lever, a crank journaled'about an axis which is perpendicular to the first mentioned axis, said arm and crank being connected by a universal joint, .and means for rotating said crank.

6. In a washing machine,in combination, a lever pivoted to swing in a vertical plane, washing devices operatively connected to the free end of said lever so as to be raised and lowered thereby, an arm projecting'laterally from said lever and movable about an axis which is per endicular to the-lever axis, a crank .journa ed about an axis which is perpendicular to both the first mentionedaxes and connected to said arm by a universal joint, and means for rotating said crank.

7. In a washing machine, in combination, a support, a crank journa'led thereto upon a vertical axis, a lever ivoted to swing upon a fixed horizontal axis which intersects the first axis at a distance from the plane of the crank, an arm projecting from said lever and having a universal connection with the crank, said arm being movable about an axis which is perpendicular to the point of said lever, and a washing device operatively connected to the free end of saidlever.

8. In a washing machine, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the edge of a tub, a lever pivoted thereto upon a fixed horizontal axis and overhanging the tub, Washing means carried by the free end of said lever, acrank journaled to said support upon an axis which intersects said first axis, an arm carried by said lever and immovable relatively the first mentioned pivot axis but movable relatively to an axis which is perpendicular thereto, said arm having a uni- H versal connection with said crank, and means for rotating said crank. i

9. In a washing machine, in'combination, a support adapted to be secured to the edge of a tub, a vertical shaft carried thereby, a

crank carried by said shaft, an electric motor. carried by said gear box outside said tub and having a horizontal shaft, speed reducing gearing operatively connecting said motor shaft and vertical shaft, a lever pivoted to said support upon a' horizontal axis and overhan ing said tub, washing means carried by t e free end of said lever, and mecha nism connecting said upright shaft with said lever adapted to oscillate the lever upon the rotation of said shaft.-

.10. In a washing machine, in combination, a support adapted to be secured to the edge of a tub, a lever pivoted thereto upona horizontal axis and adapted to project over the tub, a 1plurality of suction cups depending from t e free end of said lever, an electric motor carried by said support, and mechanism whereby said lever is oscillated when the motor is operated.

11. In a'washing machine, incombination, a support .adapted to be secured to the edge of a tub, a lever pivoted thereto upon a horizontal axis and adapted to roject over the tub, a member depending rom the end of said lever and rotatable about a vertical axis, a plurality of suction cups carried by said member and disposed symmetrically therearound, an electric motor carried by said support adapted to oscillate said lever, and means for rotating said cups about the axis of said member as said lever is oscillated.

12. ha washing machine, in combination, a support, a lever pivoted thereto and adapted to project over a washtub, said lever adapted to have a swinging movement about a horizontalaxis transverse to its own length and also an oscillating movement about its longitudinal axis, meansfor simultaneously swinging and oscillatin said lever, a plurality of suction cups (epending from the free end of said lever, and means operated by the oscillating movement of said lever for: rotating them slowly about a vertical axis.

depending from 13. The combination with a receptacle for clothing and liquid of a lever projecting thereover and plvoted for movement in aa vertically pivoted member depending from the free; end of said lever, a plurality of pounders carried thereby, a gear carried by said member, a toothed member carried by said lever.and engagin said gear, and means for swinging sai shaft so as to reciprocate and rotate said pounders. 14. The combination with a receptacle for clothing and H uid of a lever projecting vertical plane,

thereover and pivoted for movement in a vertical plane,

ally projecting member carried by the. free end of said lever and connected thereto by a ball joint, intermeshing gears carried by said member and lever and having an unequal number of teeth, and means for moving said lever about both its axes.

16. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a lever pivoted to one edge thereof upon two rectangular axes, one

- of which is horizontal and transverse to the lever and the other of which is parallel to the length of the lever, a vertical shank secured to the free end of said lever by a ball joint, a plurality of suction cups carried by said shank, a pair of intermeshing length of the and sham and means for rocking said lever about both axes.

1'2. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a lever pivoted to one edge thereof upon two rectangular axes, one

of which is parallel to the lever and the other of which is transverse thereto and horizontal, the free end of said lever hav ing a downwardly opening spherical socket which is substantially in line with the first described axis, a vertically depending shank havin a ball end received in said socket, oun ers carried by said shank, and means or oscillating said lever about both axes;

18. In a washing machine, the combination with a tub, of a lever pivoted to one edge thereof upon two rectangular axes, one of which is parallel to the lever and the other of which is transverse thereto and horizontal, an arm projecting vertically from said lever, a horizontal crank articulated to said arm and having its axis interar members carried by said lever secting' the junction of said first two axes, and pounders carried by the free end of said lever.

19. In a device of the character in combination, a gear box, a shaft journaled therein and having a crank, a bracket carried by the side of said box opposite to said crank and havinga pivot axis which intersects. the crank-axis perpendicularly, a pivot member journaled therein and having a second pivot axis perpendicular both to the crank axis and to the first pivot axis, a lever j ournaled to said pivot member with its length parallel to said second pivotiaxis, and a side branch carried by said lever having universal connection with said crank.

20. In a washing machine, a bracket adapted to be secured to the rim of a wash tub and having a horizontal journal bearing, a rocker member ivoted therein and having a shank perpendlcular to the pivot axis, 'a

lever having ahorizontal bore slidably mounted on said shank, a spring yieldingly drawing said lever onto said shank, ounders carried by the free endof said Fever, an arm pro-jectingupwardly from said lever, and operating means connected to said arm.

21. In a washing machine, in combination, a gear box having a crank projecting from one side and a bracket projecting from the other side, saidbrackethaving a bearing therein whose axis intersects the crank axis perpendicularly, a clamp device whereby said. gear box may secured to the rim of 'a tub with said or nk axis vertical and said bearing horizontal, an electric motor carried by said gear box and operatively connected to said crank, a lever pivoted to said bearing and havin a side arm which is operatively connecte to said crank, and a pounder connected to the free end of said lever. 4

22. In a washing machine, in combination, a gear box made in the form of an upwardly opening casing having an imperdescribed, I

forate bottom, a clamplng device adapted to securesaid gearbox to the edge of a tub, a crank carried by said'box and projecting upwardly, an electric motorcarried by said box and projecting-outside the tub, a lever pivoted to said box on a horizontal axis and projecting over the tub, pounders carried by tion, a supporting member adapted to be flexible fabric cover adapted to be supported detachably connected to the edge of a wash by said arm so as to house such mechanism tub, an electric motor. secured thereto, and member, and having Weighted margins 10 pounder mechanism carried by said member adapted to hang outside of said tub.

5 and operatively connected to said motor, an In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my arm adapted to be carried by said member signature. r a and to project over such mechanism, and a JAMES B. KIRBY. 

